Letter: Recycling service has closed in Lubbock

Recycling service has closed in Lubbock

Posted: November 2, 2012 - 11:06pm

Recycling service has closed in Lubbock

Lubbock has suffered a great loss. It affects all of us, although many won’t realize it until it is too late. Green Queens, Lubbock’s only full recycling service, has closed its doors. The reasons are unclear, but what is clear is that hundreds of bags filled with recyclable items are now headed to our ever expanding landfill.

Lubbock’s landfill is the fastest growing landfill in Texas. We are fortunate we don’t see it, have to drive by it or even smell it, but Lubbock is growing quickly and we might not continue to be so lucky.

I urge the city to step in and expand its recycling program. Two sisters created Green Queens and were able make a difference.

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Every city I've lived in for decades recycled, and residents had to or pay not to do it. I don't see anything wrong with that, in fact, it was just part of what we did, daily.

In Canada, every object doesn't come in 2 or more containers, just pouches and envelopes. Every buy a liquid deodorant in the USA? Ever get tired of prying the outer box and fold-down tabs apart, then flatten it to go in your trash can? Frankly, pet food is a breeze compared to human food and products. I grew up having to recycle drink bottles, milk bottles, etc. It's not new anywhere but to Lubbock.

We used the recycled tumbled glass from the Lubbock landfill, and the mulch, and took a great deal there, too for recycling to let others take advantage of the service. Yes, it's a big mistake to close this center, on the other hand, it should have been made more public so people would know about it. There is Lubbockfreecycle.com but it's turned into mainly a gimme-thing and not as useful to keeping items from the landfill any more.

It IS a sad situation that Green Queens is closing. It is unfortunate that the city doesn't get into the 20th century (yes 20th, recycling has been going on for years) and not offer, but require recycling.

Recycling isn't as difficult as the city tries to make it. The mills will now take all forms of paper and most plastic. They do not require labels and caps removed, etc. Everything just needs to be clean.

It is my understanding glass is not being recycled right now through the city because their machine is broke. It seems it would be in the best interest of the city to pay to fix the machine. Start grinding the glass, make mulch and let people know it is available free of charge.

The city cannot continue to buy big pieces of land to bury trash. The idea is to reduce the trash. Recycling will not pay for it self financially, but it will pay for itself with the environmental impact.

I encourage people to write your city council person and ask them to work on sustainability in this city, starting with recycling.

Frankly, the City should not have be allowed to shut this environment-protecting program down without voter approval. It was not promoted except on the Internet and a high % of our populace does not have access, or not dependent on it for information (thank goodness).

Melanie brings up a good point - cost vs. benefit. Our earth is in trouble, and thus far, while our sisters and brothers in the NE continue to suffer, and fires decimated our State, Americans are woefully ignoring the issues, and causing more problems. People appear to care more about their pets than they do one another; however, keep on smoking, which kills pets, too (2nd-hand smoke). It's a serious lack of knowledge, pompous arrogance, or low IQ; either way it's destroying our wondrous earth for those we have begotten.

Over time, the State Legislature is doing the same thing in abject failure it's ignored total costs of services, and care for our disabled, seniors, and chronically ill in Texas.

"Ignoring" the humane implications, the Texas legislators and governor whoop and holler about 100%-Federally-funded Medicaid, but continue to outsource those services to out of Texas high-profit conglomerates, thus forcing Texas small business providers out of business, and putting those on Medicare in Texas into useless "managed care." There is a business principle well recognized in many countries and the USA, outsourcing overall costs about ~20% MORE. There is no concern in fact about "money," it's about increasing large corporation contributions to political campaigns via lobbyists. Oh, there is a great deal more; however . . .

On this topic, directly related is the actual COST of more assault to our earth by not recycling. Many people in the south plains have given up on "farming grass" out of concern for our ground water supplies, and – the cost. Gravel is being use, fake-turf is being installed, but looking at "overall" costs, if people in Lubbock County alone were forced to Recycle or Pay everyone could utilize mulch recycled from trash and save water. Saving money, and recovery takes time – and wise, objective decision-making, not politically-based actions.

Herein, I want to quote a woman from our area I heard speak last week: “The people must not allow those we elect and pay to ignore and/or deny health and safety to those in America (or Lubbock) because of a lack of sufficient strategic planning, personal advantages, or out of political disagreement over individual rights; that is irresponsible.” Our next war will be over water rights -- not "over water."

I guess there needs to be some clarification, Green Queens was not owned or run by the city, they were a private entity. The city hasn't done much in the way of promoting recycling, they certainly don't deserve any credit for what Green Queens have done for the past four years.

Now it's understood, but that does not lessen the responsiblity of our local communities to protect the environment, and stop landfill waste and toxins that will one day kill humans. And, just who or what could not repair or replace the glass tumler?

There are many locations accepting recyclables throughout the city. I bring mine to a Frenship elementary school less than 1/4 mile from my house. Don't be lazy and ask the city for another reason to tax us. It is up to each individual to make the effort instead of demanding a service that would tax everyone.

Not sure what you mean by "lazy” – It seems uncalled for in this context. Overall, people could be such if they simply want to throw every item into a dumpster but a recycling operation produces income for communities and the net profits dedicated to a local cause, such as homelessness, hunger, Pre K-12 education, health care, domestic violence intervention, the arts, etc.

On that 'note,' every one doesn’t have the gas, money, or ability to get to a central location – home pick-up is not only wise but it's done all over the nation even in the smallest communities. Up-front is an investment in containers and everywhere we have lived we had to pay for them; however, the overall benefit to individuals, community, and our earth was well worth our cooperation, not to mention income for those kind souls working in the recycling centers and pick-ups programs.

This is something that a municipality, and/or county can do, and should do. In the South Plains, such programming takes less effort due to less structure; thus, less interest groups to deal with in creating change (unbelievable in more populated regions).

In some ways we have a district advantage over the densely populated areas - we know one another, we can communicate directly with most of our local leadership. We are simply less tiered in governmental groups so change comes more quickly and more easily. Let's just move forward, now, and support recycling for the sake of everyone, and our incredible earth. (PS: children will lead the way!)